The Promise in a Kiss: A Cynster Novel

In a quiet moonlit courtyard, Helena encounters a handsome and mysterious Englishman. Before parting, he rewards her with a special kiss - a delicious, enticing, unforgettable kiss that makes her whole body shiver with desire. Helena doesn't yet know that she has met her destiny - and he is Sebastian Cynster, Duke of St. Ives.

The Lady by His Side: The Devil’s Brood Trilogy, Book 1

Sebastian Cynster knows time is running out. If he doesn't choose a wife soon, his female relatives will line up to assist him. Yet the current debutantes do not appeal. Where is he to find the right lady to be his marchioness? Then Drake Varisey, eldest son of the Duke of Wolverstone, asks for Sebastian's aid.

Captain Jack's Woman: The Bastion Club Novels

They meet in a clash of swords, drenched in the moonlight of Britain's rugged eastern coast: Captain Jack, his handsome features etched in silver and shadow, his powerful physique compelling "Kit" Cranmer to surrender. He is her dream lover come vividly alive, and his command of the smuggling gang is absolute. His all-knowing gaze penetrates her disguise as the male leader of a rival gang with frightening ease, and his "punishment" with kisses leaves her maidenly modesty in tatters.

The Duke and I

Simon Basset, the irresistible Duke of Hastings, has hatched a plan to keep himself free from the town's marriage-minded society mothers. He pretends to be engaged to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn't as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry - though there is something about the alluring Miss Bridgerton that sets Simon's heart beating a bit faster. And as for Daphne, surely the clever debutante will attract some very worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable.

Cold-Hearted Rake

Devon Ravenel, London's most wickedly charming rake, has just inherited an earldom. But his powerful new rank in society comes with unwanted responsibilities...and more than a few surprises. His estate is saddled with debt, and the late earl's three innocent sisters are still occupying the house - along with Kathleen, Lady Trenear, a beautiful young widow whose sharp wit and determination are a match for Devon's own.

Again the Magic

Lady Aline Marsden was brought up for one reason: to make an advantageous marriage to a member of her own class. Instead, she willingly gave her innocence to John McKenna, a servant on her father’s estate. Their passionate transgression was unforgivable - John was sent away, and Aline was left to live in the countryside - an exile from London society - and he took her love. Now McKenna has made his fortune, and he has returned - more boldly handsome and more mesmerizing than before.

Governess Honoria Wetherby values her independence. She would rather travel the world than marry and give some man control of her life. Then, one stormy evening, fate changes all her plans. She stumbles upon a mortally wounded young man in the woods. When the stranger dies, she is trapped in a cabin with his body and with his newly arrived cousin, Devil, whom she soon learns is aptly named. He insists that their unchaperoned night together has compromised her honor, and, therefore she must marry him. Tension levels run high as Honoria plots to thwart Devil's marriage plans and tries to help him find his cousin's killer...the same madman who is now plotting to murder Devil.

Narrator Simon Prebble tantalizes listeners as he breathes life into these intriguing characters.

Simon Prebble will knock your socks off with his reading of this well written book. Laurens builds up and maintains the sexual tension between the hero and heroine from their very first encounter, but Prebble's performance brings it to life. You will not be disappointed.

All of the Cynster books Recorded Books produced with Simon Prebble narrating are worth listening to, if only to wait for and truly appreciate the way he says "... and ... then ... she ... shattered!" That alone makes these books listen-worthy. It is in every single book. Wait for it...

Devil's Bride seems to be considered Ms. Lauren's best work. I probably agree. It started off with a very unique twist, especially for an historical romance. And the two main characters are both larger than life. I give Ms. Lauren's credit for creating heroines every bit as brave and stubborn as her heroes. And I also like that in her books it is typically the man who falls first and he has to work hard to convince the woman of his dreams to take him on. I also appreciate that she puts a plot in each of her books. It may not be plausible or complicated, but it is much preferable to so many historical romances that focus solely on the relationship between the two main characters.

But again, Simon Prebble's narration alone makes this book and all of the Lauren's books he narrated worth listening to. I doubt that I would ever have picked this book up in paperback.

Laurens has such lovely prose, and I like her characters -- until she makes them say the same two things for fifty pages. I was having quite a nice time in the beginning. The dramatic meeting, the heroine's plight -- all of that was juicy stuff. And she has real skill at setting the scene.Then the 6 hours of repetition begin. Hero: "We're getting married." Heroine: "No we're not." That's it. For page after page. And then, it's Heroine: "Okay, I'll marry you." Hero: "Are you sure? You need to be sure. I can wait." For page after page after page.

And then, I don't know what happened, because I couldn't make myself listen to the end.

I don't mean to be a brat. The author is immensely popular, so there are clearly people who enjoy the kind of 'battle of wills' plot she creates. I'm just not one of them.

OMG - I have wanted to listen to the early books in this series for soooooo long. I was so excited to see Scandal's Bride a few months back and now books 1 and 2 are also available. Devil's Bride shows the bar Cynster at their best. I loved how Devil knew Honoria would be his bride way before she did. However, he had to prove it to her. If you love this series - definitely read this book!

I thought the back and forth between the main characters was amusing. They both felt they had the right to protect the other. These books are so old fashioned in their ideals about the roles of women and men. I like that the women are uniquely independent and passionate. While they are innocent, they are intelligent and independent thinkers...which sets them apart from the pack. Good read, even better listen with Simon Prebble as narrator.

I definitely enjoyed this story. It really had just the right amount of romance and mystery. Enjoyed Devil (hate that name though) and Honorias relationship, and the relative ease in which it came together. I really prefer when its not dragged out forever. There was a ton of sex in this book. A lot. Simon Prebble is a good enough narrator, though I tend to prefer female narrators, I wouldn't object to listening to SP again. It was, however, kind of awkward listening to him read the sex scenes, especially from the female perspective. Sometimes it made me chuckle. Lol All in all, I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next in the series.

I started out really into this book. It is well written and there was a lot of dramatic tension in the first half. Of course, I knew it was a romance when I got it, but I guess I was expecting more mystery than romance. Right around the second half (not coincidentally, around the time the sex scenes started) the entire mystery element disappeared in favor of protracted sex scenes that were so long they became tedius. The first of them was well over an hour long! If you are into that sort of thing, then you may not have felt as I did that it really took away from the overall story, and I found myself fast-forwarding them to get to the actual storyline. The mystery element was set up well, but by 3/4 of the way, I was getting frustrated with the main character to figure out who did it, when I had figured it out several hours earlier. Overall, the story was enjoyable, but if all the books in the series feature the mind-numbing sex scenes this one does, I don't think I will want to listen to the rest of the series.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would have dramatically cut the sex scenes, which I think would have made them more rewarding.

What about Simon Prebble’s performance did you like?

I LOVE Simon Prebble, everything he does is fantastic. His narration is half the reason I listened to this book all the way through.

It was a good book to wile away the hours, nothing too tricky or needing full concentration. The books are written sequentially and I have read the first 6 - all of them fun. I think I'll stop at 6, now all 6 cousins are married.

What did you like best about this story?

Other than each of the cousin's nicknames being a bit daft (Devil, Vane, Lucifer, Scandal etc), Devil (head of the family) was a great alpha character, with a very large & noisy family. I have read the first 6 books in the Cynster series (not sure that I will read anymore as they are quite same-y) and was great fun if you like a bit of light froth to read without being taxed in any way. <br/><br/>Devil's Bride is possibly the best in the series with a good storyline. I liked Devil's future bride Honoria who was a strong female character. What I did find amusing in all the female heroine's in the 6 books is that each young lady goes from strong female type to simpering Miss once they encounter the Cynster cousins. They all quickly jump into bed with their male heroes, regardless of any resultant consequence. In those days and being well-bred I can't imagine that all 6 brides were strumpets and gagging for the love of a Cynster. Most amusing. Simon Prebble reading the love scenes was a hoot.

What about Simon Prebble’s performance did you like?

He is so OTT with his narration. I did find myself getting use to his dramatic pronouncements, almost as if he was reading it tongue-in-cheek, which he most probably was

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, I was happy to dib in and out

Any additional comments?

It seems that I like stories that have male family members and friends helping each other out of scrapes and being supportive to each other. This is the third set of series books that I have read that have an alpha male at the centre of the books and lots of male support from friends/family. In a very soppy way, it is heart-warming to see male bonding which is often less prominent than females, who bond/support together more naturally. It brought a smile to my face on a grey old day.

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P

LINCOLN, United Kingdom

4/21/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Good Mystery Plot, Erotic"

What made the experience of listening to Devil's Bride the most enjoyable?

I chose this book because I was expecting a Georgette Heyer type listening. It was not!!<br/><br/>Full of erotic descriptions which gave some unexpected spice, but with a good storyline running throughout. I will listen to other books by Stephanie Laurens.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Devil's Bride?

I thought the whole book was full of memorable moments. It has been very well written.

What does Simon Prebble bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Excellent narrative by Simon Prebble. Brought alive the passion between Devil Sinster and his lady. He read the book with enthusiasm and his voice suited the storyline with great aplomb. I would seek his narration again.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

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